From coal to cars – what big data is China tracking to put virus-hit businesses back on track?

A textile worker on a fabric production line at a factory in Qingdao, Shandong, China. Location technology firm TomTom's traffic index shows greatly reduced congestion levels across China's major cities as virus containment measures continue to limit population movement. — Reuters

BEIJING: China is tracking big data on an array of industrial barometers such as power use and traffic flows to take the pulse of general activity and target stimulus measures aimed at mitigating the impact of the coronavirus on its struggling economy.

The flu-like epidemic – which has killed over 2,200 people and infected more than 74,000 – has disrupted businesses across China, spilling over several key global supply chains. Analysts say it will knock more than 1 percentage point off China's economic growth in 2020 and cut electricity demand by 1.5%.